Summer in the Spotlight is Liz Johnson’s third and final book in her Prince Edward Island Shores series. It can be read as a standalone novel. It takes place on the beautiful Prince Edward Island, as one would expect from the series title. It starts out a bit exciting and just feels like a lovely place to be. 

The story is based in part on a woman named Kelsey who decides she wants to fight to save a community icon known as the Victoria Playhouse. Interestingly, this playhouse is a real building which still exists. One of the charms of this book is the author focuses on a real location and a real structure and not some made up or fictitious place.

In actuality, the character of Levi is by far the most compelling. His story is never fully told in previous books and throughout much of this installment, his history comes to life. The reader’s heart will just ache for this adult man who has been traumatized by past events form his childhood. He just can’t seem to move past them. Virtual hugs for this man are in order. Liz Johnson does a great job of really connecting us to Levi.

The romance is sweet and lots of characters get a moment or two in the spotlight. This is a pretty light read about deep topics. It’s not hard to be swept up in rooting for your favorites in the small town of Victoria on Prince Edward Island.

Review of an Advance Reader’s Copy Provided by the Publisher

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: References to a man striking his wife and threatening his children.

Sex/Nudity: Characters kiss and embrace.

Mature Subject Matter: 

Abusive parent.

Drug/Alcohol Use: 

Several references to a man being drunk a lot or having too much alcohol; a scene in which an adult is drunk.